Mary "Rita" Caufield

Mary 'Rita' Caufield SOUTH PORTLAND -- Mary 'Rita' Caufield peacefully passed on Thursday, March 5, 2009, surrounded by her family at home. Born on May 10, 1918, in Portland, she was the second of seven children born to Andrew and Helen Waite Dufour. She attended St. Dominic's and graduated from Portland High School. Rita married the love of her life, Thomas Caufield, in 1947 and moved to Pride's Corner in Westbrook where they raised three children. She dedicated herself to her faith, her family, and her friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Marie Fitzsimmons, Clara Leonard, Dorothy Lavangie, her brother John Dufour, and her husband of 31 years. She is survived by her two devoted brothers, Dick Dufour and his wife Jean, and Tim Dufour and his wife Lauretta; daughters Janice Ryder and her husband Wayne, Nancy Darling-Kirby and her husband Steve, and her son Thomas and his wife Marsha. She was blessed with six grandchildren Sean, Jack, Julie, Kelly, Lyndsey, and Benjamin, and many precious nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to attend a 1 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, March 9, at St. John the Evangelist Church, 611 Main St., South Portland. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Arrangements by the Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Online condolences may be expressed at www.ctcrawford.com. Rita's family wishes to publicly thank Elaine Wheatley, her personal caregiver for three years, Amy Boyce, Aging Excellence, and Beacon Hospice for their devotion and care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: The National Parkinson's Foundation 1501 N.W. 9th Ave. Bob Hope Road Miami, Florida 33136-1494 or www.parkinson.org Mary 'Rita' Caufield